Sign up for both contests is at the Rotary Information/Raffle Booth at the entrance to Theodore Roosevelt Park beginning at approximately 11 a.m. This year’s emcee is Jim Kerr, Q104’s Morning Man. Official judges are Darryl Dowers and Harlan Friedman. The contests will take place from 2 to 3 p.m. on the West End Ave. stage on Saturday, Oct. 15.
Oyster Eating Contest Rules: Maximum 12 contestants; all contestants must be over the age of 18; each will have a tray of (pre-shucked) 36 oysters to begin with, which will then be replenished with cups containing 12 oysters each; the original tray and empty cups will be counted to get the number of oysters consumed; the time limit is two minutes, 40 seconds. Contestants will be allowed to season their oysters; sauce and lemon will be made available.
Record for Oyster Eating: Oyster Festival Record was set in 1998 by David Leonard of Central Islip with 480 oysters chugged in two minutes and five seconds.
Prizes: First Prize winner receives $50 and a plaque. Second Prize winner receives $25 and a plaque.
Oyster Shucking Contest Rules: Maximum 10 contestants; All Contestants must be over the age of 18; All contestants will be provided with gloves, apron, knives and a name tag. Contestants may use their own equipment if approved by the judges. Oysters must be completely severed from the shell, the muscles cut and oysters must be whole and not mutilated. The time limit is four minutes.
Record for Oyster Shucking: Oyster Festival Record is held by Rodney Dow, who beat Andy Schuller in a shuck off in 1985. The two men both shucked 57 oysters in the allotted time. Dow shucked another 22 oysters in two minutes to win the shuck off.
Prizes for each contest: Each first prize winner receives $50 and a plaque. Second prize winner receives $25 and a plaque.
